Katie Hopkins’ Twitter account suspended
The controversial rightwing commentator Katie Hopkins has had her Twitter account suspended for violating the terms of the social media site.
Hopkins’ account was still visible online on Thursday night, but Twitter said that Hopkins had been temporarily locked out of the platform for violating its anti-hate policy.
A spokesperson for Twitter told the BBC that it was looking into complaints from anti-racism campaigners that Hopkins’ comments on the social media platform constituted hate speech.
“Keeping Twitter safe is a top priority for us – abuse and harassment have no place on the service,” said the spokesperson, according the BBC.
“These rules apply to everyone using our service – regardless of the account involved.”
Hopkins, who rose to prominence as a contestant on the Apprentice, is known for her outspoken views. She regularly tweets pro-Trump, pro-Brexit and anti-immigration messages and has launched a series of attacks on the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. She has received a boost in Twitter follower numbers after being retweeted several times by US president.
Hopkins describes herself in her Twitter bio as “Milo’s Mum. The Female Farage. Angry Ellen de Generes. The Biggest Bitch in Britain.”
She has more than one million Twitter followers.
As 2020 begins…
… we’re asking readers, like you, to make a new year contribution in support of the Guardian’s open, independent journalism. This has been a turbulent decade across the world – protest, populism, mass migration and the escalating climate crisis. The Guardian has been in every corner of the globe, reporting with tenacity, rigour and authority on the most critical events of our lifetimes. At a time when factual information is both scarcer and more essential than ever, we believe that each of us deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its heart.
You’ve read 16 articles in the last four months. More people than ever before are reading and supporting our journalism, in more than 180 countries around the world. And this is only possible because we made a different choice: to keep our reporting open for all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay.
We have upheld our editorial independence in the face of the disintegration of traditional media – with social platforms giving rise to misinformation, the seemingly unstoppable rise of big tech and independent voices being squashed by commercial ownership. The Guardian’s independence means we can set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. Our journalism is free from commercial and political bias – never influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This makes us different. It means we can challenge the powerful without fear and give a voice to those less heard.
None of this would have been attainable without our readers’ generosity – your financial support has meant we can keep investigating, disentangling and interrogating. It has protected our independence, which has never been so critical. We are so grateful.
As we enter a new decade, we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. And that is here for the long term. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support The Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
.
Image Source:*Ken McKay/REX Shutterstock/Ken McKay/REX_Shutterstock
Source:theguardian.com